Mavericks Could Sign Jermaine O'Neal

According to ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are "inching closer" to signing 18-year NBA veteran Jermaine O'Neal, 36, who resides in Southlake with his family.

"Sources told ESPN.com that the Mavericks -- who continue to closely monitor the 36-year-old center as O'Neal works out in preparation for a comeback -- hope to sign him by the All-Star break," according to the story.

O'Neal averaged 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 20.1 minutes last season with the Golden State Warriors, and remains a free agent this season. He has been working out at his home gym in Southlake to get back into NBA shape. He was also in Germany earlier this month to have treatment done on his knees, according to the report.

The move would make sense for O'Neal, as he has settled into the Southlake community with his wife, Mesha, and his 8-year-old son, Jermaine Jr. and 15-year-old daughter, Asjia. The children attend school at Carroll ISD. Asjia is a nationally ranked volleyball player. The Dragons went 43-4 in 2014, falling to Amarillo, 3-0, in the regional semifinals of the UIL state championship tournament.

O'Neal was selected right out of Eau Claire High School (South Carolina) with the 17th pick of the first round in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. The ESPN.com report said Portland may also be interested in signing O'Neal. He spent four years in Portland, followed by eight with the Indiana Pacers, and short stints in Toronto, Miami, Boston and Phoenix before landing with the Warriors in 2013.